Distributing head for evaporators



June 18, 1935, 5 wrrz 25,044,455 v DISTRIBUTING HEAD FOR EVAPORATORS Filed May 16, 1935 ATTOENEY Patented June 16, 1936 fiTATES a ree eyein 2.0mm nrs'rnmnrrna mean non avaroaa'roas Ernst Witzel, Racine, Wia, assignor to Young Radiator (iompany, Racine, Wis.

My'invention relates to means for economically distributing the refrigerant to the various coils of an evaporator.

The principal object of the present invention is to make an equal distribution of the refrigerant to the coils of the evaporator in a manner which will prevent unnecessary pressure drop between the expansion valve or its equivalent and the entrance end of the coils.

I accomplish these objects by means of a simple and novel header, in a manner which will hereinafter appear.

To these and other useful ends, my invention resides in features of construction, combination of parts or their equivalents, as hereinafter set forth and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a side sectional elevation of a fraction of an evaporator showing my improved distributing header in section taken on line i-i' of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view of the header takenon line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a modification shown in section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 4.

Figure 4 is a transverse section of the header shown in Figure 3, taken on line 6-6 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of the header shown in Figures 1, and 3, illustrating the manner of connecting the orifices to the outlets.

As thus illustrated the evaporator is designated in its entirety by reference character A. The evaporator shown comprises four rows of tubes Nos. i, 2, 3 and i, and have preferably a multiplicity of closely spaced fins 5, through which the tubes extend. The usual tube plates 6, and a common outlet header (not shown) are provided.

The distributing header illustrated in Figure 1, is designated in its entirety by reference character B. My improved header is particularly adapted for evaporators having vertically positioned coils, that is, where the coils each comprise a number of tubes serially connected in horizontal circuits. Thus the coils will be positioned in horizontal rows.

In the design shown in Figures 1 and 2, the outer covering or housing of the distributing header is designated by numeral Hi. I provide a means for distributing the refrigerant in the housing in the form of horizontal and vertical partitions. These partitions are integral and they may be integral with the housing, but if not, the assembly may be turned true, so as to fit snugly in the housing, and the edges bonded after the assembly is completed.

Header B is provided with four outlet connections, designated by numerals ii, i2, i3 and it, to which the inlet ends of coils i, 2, 3 and t are suitably attached in respective order.

A vertical partition wall 15, extending for the length of the housing is, preferably, shaped as illustrated in Figure 2. I provide a transverse partition to, forming a chamber ii. I provide a flange it, having an opening is, to'which an expansion valve may be connected.

I provide vertical partition walls 25, 26 and 2?. These partitions radiate from wall it, forming four chambers 28, 29, 3d and til. I provide orifices 32 in wall i5, one orifice for each chamber. These orifices are preferably positioned above opening i9 and they are necessarily all on the same plane, whereby the entering refrigerant will be equally distributed in to the orifices. The manner of distributing the refrigerant from chamber ii to the evaporator coil I, is as folthe passageway 29, from one of the orificesto outlet 52. Partition wall 2?, extends further downward and is inter-connected to wall ill by means of transverse wall 31, thus forming passageway 28 from an orifice to outlet i3. A passageway 3i is formed from one'of the orifices to the bottom of'housing it, between wall 21, and the housing, thus providing a passageway from an orifice to outlet No. M.

Clearly the refrigerant will be equally distributed to the several coils, and the design may be changed whereby any desired number of evaporator coils may be served. The orifices 32 may be drilled before the core is assembled into the housing. It will be observed that all of the outlets in the header are on the same vertical plane, thus to simplify the construction, whereby if desired the coil ends may be extended so as to make a direct connection to the header.

In Figure 3, I illustrate a modification wherein an l. shaped chamber to, is formed into which the refrigerant passes from the expansion valve.

The end wall ii, is preferably a distance above inlet l9 and extends horizontally having orifices 62, one orifice for each chamber, which extends downward registering with the outlets exactly as rower, to meet the requirements of various installations. Thus it will be seen that applicant further provides a header which is simple, efiicient and easily attached to the evaporator coils.

For convenience it will be noted that applicant makes use of similar numerals for like parts in the various figures.

Obviously the several leads from the orifices may be formed by other means than shown, or the orifices may be supplied with outlets suitable for pipe connections which 'lead directly to the inlet end of the coils, thus individual tubes would be the means for conveying the refrigerant to the coils after leaving the orifices.

Applicant has, it will be seen, provided novel means for equally distributing refrigerant from a receiving chamber through suitably sized and positioned orifices. He has also provided a novel distributing means between the orifices and the inlet ends of the coils.

Clearly applicant's manner of distributing the refrigerant is not dependent upon the manner of conducting the refrigerant from the orifice to the coils. It will, therefore, be understood that applicant has provided a novel distributing head which may be connected to the coils in any convenient manner, and further applicant's manner of conducting the refrigerant from the orifices is novel and may be used in combination with other forms of distributing chambers and outlet wherein the expansion valve is dispensed with, the

several orifices being of a suitable size to act as expansion orifices if necessary.

Having thus shown and described my invention I claim:

1. A device of the class described, comprising an evaporator having a number of individual coils, a receiving chamber having at one side near the bottom thereof a refrigerant inlet, said chamber having a wall opposiie said inlet which extends upwardly to a point above said inlet then extending outwardly forming a ledge, spaced orifices in said ledge, means whereby said orifices are each operatively connected to the inlet end of one of said coils.

2. A device of the class described, comprising an evaporator having a number of coils, a distributor head comprising a vertically disposed housing, internal walls in said housing forming passageways, a refrigerant inlet chamber in the top of said housing having a number of outlet orifices, means whereby the refrigerant is discharged into said passageways, through individual said orifices, and discharged from each said passageway to the inlet end of one of said coils.

3. A- device of the class described, comprising an evaporator having a number of individual coils, a distributing header for said coils comprising a vertically positioned chamber, a distributing head in the top of said chamber comprising a chamber having a refrigerant inlet at one side near the bottom thereof and a wall opposite said inlet having spaced outlet orifices which are positioned in a horizontal row above said inlet, partition walls forming passageways in said first chamber, each having an operating connection at the top to one of said orifices and an outlet connection at the bottom to one of said coils.

4. A device of the class described, comprising an evaporator having a number of individual coils, a vertically disposed header having a distributing chamber in its top, comprising a refrigerant inlet near the bottom thereof and a number of outlet orifices, each positioned on the same horizontal plane above said inlet, partition wallsin said header forming passageways, each leading from one of said orifices and terminating at varying distances therefrom into outlets, each outlet having a connection to one of said coils.

5. A device of the class described, comprising an evaporator having a number of coils, a vertically disposed distributing header having a chamber in, the top thereof, comprising a refrigerant inlet at the bottom and a wall opposite said inlet extending to a point above said inlet, then extending outwardly horizontally forming a ledge, spaced orifices in said ledge, partition walls in said header forming passageways, each leading from one of said orifices and terminating at varying distances therefrom into outlets, each outlet having a connection to one of said coils.

6. A device of the class described, comprising an evaporator having a number of coils, an elongated distributer head having an inlet chamber with an inlet opening near the bottom thereof and a number of outlet orifices being horizontally nection from each said spaced outlets to one of said coils.

. ERNST WITZEL. 

